Of course, my writer's group would zing me for the cliché of this title, but I think it is the most fitting for the circumstances.

I've been very inactive on my website since the beginning of this summer - actually, with writing in general. I've done a review or two for Bewildering Stories (actually, a new one just came out yesterday, but I'll be posting more in the Book Reviews section). But our kitchen has taken longer than expected, and Aerin is now walking everywhere (time flies!) and so I've just been juggling lots of RL.

The fall is my favorite time of year, though, and I can feel my creativity waking up again. How can a person not be inspired by the leaves flaring into flame-colored bursts, the exciting start of the holiday season, or the chill in the air that begs for hot chocolate with extra marshmallows? I have a new book that I've been working on sporadically over the summer, and I'm determined to finish it during NaNoWriMo coming up. I've even conned a few people I know into joining me in the event, haha.

If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, it is short for National Novel Writing Month. Basically, for the month of November, the goal is to write 50,000 words between November 1st-30th. You can sign up for free on the website, and it will help keep track of your progress, let you know if you're behind or ahead in your writing, and you can meet other writers online who are doing the same thing you're doing. There are even local events set up by the regional liaisons, so that you can go to coffee shops or libraries to join other fellow writers and get your creativity on. It's a great event to inspire you, since it helps you feel like you're part of something bigger than the usual solitary pursuit of sitting at home and tapping away at the keyboard. And did I mention that it's free to do? :)

I hope everyone is enjoying the month of October. And if, like me, you're gearing up for NaNoWriMo - good luck!

Author

I am a freelance writer and poet with over seventy short pieces published in magazines and anthologies. When not writing, I review books for the ezine Bewildering Stories. If the Walking Dead isn't on, I draw pictures and do origami meditation in Connecticut, where I live with my husband and three children. If the Walking Dead is on... shhhh! The Walking Dead is on!